Archives: meaning, definitions and examples

Can be used in a digital context, referring to a collection of stored data or files.

• The digital archives include a vast collection of e-books and journals
• You can find archived emails in your account settings

Used broadly to refer to any form of stored information, often in an organized way. It can apply to various fields like medical, legal, or personal data.

• The hospital keeps detailed medical records for each patient
• Police records showed his history of minor offenses

Used to refer to written or printed papers that provide information, serve as evidence, or are official records.

• Please submit all the required documents by Friday
• Legal documents are necessary to prove ownership of the property

Refers to a place or container where things are stored for future use, often used in the context of databases or software.

• The university's library serves as a repository of academic knowledge
• The code repository contains all the project’s source files and their revision history

Used when referring to a collection of historical documents, records, or data, usually preserved for historical or research purposes.

• The university library has an extensive collection of archives dating back to the 18th century.
• Researchers often spend days in the archives looking for old newspaper clippings.

Refers to the action of keeping items in a specific place for future use. It is a more general term used for everyday items or data.

• We need to store these supplies in the warehouse until we need them.
• You can store your files on this USB drive.

Used when discussing the act of keeping something in its original state or in good condition, often for future use or to prevent decay.

• Efforts to preserve the ancient manuscripts were successful.
• They are working to preserve the historic building from demolition.

Appropriate when referring to the process of organizing and listing items, often in a systematic way. Commonly used in libraries, stores, and databases.

• The librarian spent hours cataloging the new arrivals.
• You can search for the book in the online catalog.